Discord: Difference between revisions
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'''[[Wikipedia:Discord|Discord]]''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.) | '''[[Wikipedia:Discord|Discord]]''' is a proprietary VoIP and instant-messaging platform developed by Discord Inc. (formerly Hammer & Chisel, Inc.) co-founded by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.<ref name="co-founders">[https://www.inc.com/guadalupe-gonzalez/30-under-30-2018-discord.html "There Are 2.6 Billion Online Gamers in the World. This Startup Just May Connect Them All"]. May 3, 2018. ''Inc.''. Retrieved January 23, 2025.</ref> Launched in 2015, the service has grown to over 150 million monthly active users as of 2025. While primarily marketed toward gamers, Discord has expanded to serve various communities and use cases.<ref name="about-company">[https://discord.com/company/ "About Discord | Our Mission and Values"]. April 15, 2024. ''Discord''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref> | ||
==Consumer protection summary== | ==Consumer protection summary== | ||
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====Freedom==== | ====Freedom==== | ||
* {{HoverImportant}} | * {{HoverImportant}} | ||
Mandatory [[Forced Arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action]] waiver for U.S. users (Started May 15, 2024)<ref name="terms-of-service" /> | Mandatory [[Forced Arbitration|binding arbitration]] with [[class action|class-action]] waiver for U.S. users (Started May 15, 2024)<ref name="terms-of-service" /> | ||
* {{HoverImportant}} | * {{HoverImportant}} | ||
Users grant perpetual, transferable license to their content<ref name="terms-of-service" /> | Users grant perpetual, transferable license to their content<ref name="terms-of-service" /> | ||
*Users must accept broad terms of service that allow unilateral changes<ref name="terms-of-service" /> | *Users must accept broad terms of service that allow unilateral changes<ref name="terms-of-service" /> | ||
*Can terminate accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion<ref name="terms-of-service" /> | *Can terminate accounts without prior notice at Discord's discretion<ref name="terms-of-service" /> | ||
*No option to opt | *No option to opt out of core data collection while using the service<ref name="privacy-policy" /> | ||
*Content may be retained by Discord even after deletion<ref name="privacy-policy" /> | *Content may be retained by Discord even after deletion<ref name="privacy-policy" /> | ||
*Server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned<ref name="terms-of-service" /> | *Server owners have limited recourse if their servers are banned<ref name="terms-of-service" /> | ||
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====FTC data collection investigation (Sep. 2024)==== | ====FTC data collection investigation (Sep. 2024)==== | ||
In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data collection practices as part of a broader investigation into social media platforms.<ref>[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"]. September 2024. ''Federal Trade Commission''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref> | In September 2024, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) released a comprehensive report examining Discord's data-collection practices as part of a broader investigation into social-media platforms.<ref>[https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Social-Media-6b-Report-9-11-2024.pdf "A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services"]. September 2024. ''Federal Trade Commission''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref> | ||
The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including: | The investigation revealed Discord collects extensive user data, including: | ||
*Message content and metadata | *Message content and metadata | ||
*Voice chat participation | *Voice-chat participation | ||
*Server membership and activity | *Server membership and activity | ||
*Device and location information | *Device and location information | ||
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*Collection of data from users under 13 | *Collection of data from users under 13 | ||
*Handling of minor user information | *Handling of minor user information | ||
*Inadequate age verification systems | *Inadequate age-verification systems | ||
The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk: | The FTC identified multiple areas where Discord's practices put users at risk: | ||
*Identity theft exposure | *Identity-theft exposure | ||
*Potential stalking risks | *Potential stalking risks | ||
*Discrimination concerns | *Discrimination concerns | ||
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====Child safety concerns (Jun. 2023)==== | ====Child safety concerns (Jun. 2023)==== | ||
An [[NBC News]] investigation in June 2023<ref>Goggin, Ben (June 21, 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref> uncovered widespread child safety issues on Discord, revealing systematic problems with the platform's user protection measures. | An [[NBC News]] investigation in June 2023<ref>Goggin, Ben (June 21, 2023). [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/discord-child-safety-social-platform-challenges-rcna89769 "Child predators are using Discord, a popular app among teens, for sextortion and abductions"]. ''NBC News''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref> uncovered widespread child-safety issues on Discord, revealing systematic problems with the platform's user protection measures. | ||
35 separate cases | Investigators identified 35 separate cases where adults were criminally charged with "kidnapping, grooming, or sexual assault" involving contacts initiated through Discord. Additionally, 165 criminal prosecutions involving the sharing of child sexual exploitation material on the platform were documented. | ||
Discord stated they had increased safety measures, including: | Discord stated they had increased safety measures, including: | ||
*Enhanced age verification systems | *Enhanced age-verification systems | ||
*Improved automated detection tools | *Improved automated detection tools | ||
*Increased moderation staff | *Increased moderation staff | ||
Despite these measures, investigations showed continuing vulnerabilities in Discord's youth protection systems.<ref>Winston, Ali (March 15, 2024). [https://web.archive.org/web/20250101094320/https://www.wired.com/story/764-com-child-predator-network/ "There Are Dark Corners of the Internet. Then There's 764"]. ''WIRED''. Archived from the original on January 1, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref> | Despite these measures, investigations showed continuing vulnerabilities in Discord's youth-protection systems.<ref>Winston, Ali (March 15, 2024). [https://web.archive.org/web/20250101094320/https://www.wired.com/story/764-com-child-predator-network/ "There Are Dark Corners of the Internet. Then There's 764"]. ''WIRED''. Archived from the original on January 1, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref> | ||
====Fined for GDPR violations (Nov. 2022)==== | ====Fined for GDPR violations (Nov. 2022)==== | ||
In November 2022, France's privacy regulator [[CNIL]] imposed an €800,000 fine on Discord for multiple GDPR violations<ref>Brunoli, Joseph (November 18, 2022). [https://www.techzine.eu/news/privacy-compliance/94722/france-fines-discord-e800000-for-privacy-infractions/ "France fines Discord €800,000 for privacy infractions"]. ''Techzine Europe''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref> that demonstrated systematic privacy protection failures: | In November 2022, France's privacy regulator [[CNIL]] imposed an €800,000 fine on Discord for multiple [[General Data Protection Regulation]] (GDPR) violations<ref>Brunoli, Joseph (November 18, 2022). [https://www.techzine.eu/news/privacy-compliance/94722/france-fines-discord-e800000-for-privacy-infractions/ "France fines Discord €800,000 for privacy infractions"]. ''Techzine Europe''. Retrieved January 16, 2025.</ref> that demonstrated systematic privacy protection failures: | ||
*Background | *Background-process violation: The application continued running in the background after users attempted to close it, collecting data without user awareness or consent. | ||
*Voice | *Voice-chat privacy issue: The platform failed to properly disconnect users from voice chats after session termination, potentially exposing private communications. | ||
*Security | *Security-standards Violation: Discord allowed users to create passwords with as few as six characters, falling below accepted security standards for protecting user accounts. | ||
*Data | *Data-protection Failures: The investigation revealed broader systematic failures in Discord's approach to user privacy protection and data handling. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||